Convertible furniture construction

ABSTRACT

A mobile furniture construction employing multi-position adjustment means for the selective use of the same as an upright chair, a lounge chair, a chaise lounge and a cot. Three interconnected and distinct relatively adjustable framework components are adapted to support three cushion assemblies which cushion assemblies are functionally interconnected with each other and the framework components to provide a unit handled construction. Two of the framework components are adjustably supported directly on the third component for the various multiposition adjustments thus obviating the usual linkage interconnections employed with constructions of the general type under consideration.

United States Patent [1 1 Spence 1 Oct. 23, 1973 CONVERTIBLE FURNITURECONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Jack E. Spence, Collins, Miss.

[73] Assignee: Durfold, Inc., Jackson, Miss.

[22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 224,091

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 4,898, Jan.22, 1970,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 297/111, 5/18 R, 5/41 [51] Int. Cl. A47c l/028 [58] Fieldof Search ..5/17,18, 21, 30, 5/41, 48, 43, 354, 355, 347, 363; 297/111,375, 354

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,808,595 10/1957 McLean....5/43 3,259,432 7/1966 Jackson 297/354 2,260,079 10/1941 Lombardi 297/375Smith 5/18 R Gertler 297/111 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. ZugelAttorney-Colton & Stone [57] ABSTRACT A mobile furniture constructionemploying multiposition adjustment means for the selective use of thesame as an upright chair, a lounge chair, a chaise lounge and a cot.Three interconnected and distinct relatively adjustable frameworkcomponents are adapted to support three cushion assemblies which cushionassemblies are functionally interconnected with each other and theframework components to provide a unit handled construction. Two of theframework components are adjustably supported directly on the thirdcomponent for the various multiposition adjustments thus obviating theusual linkage interconnections employed with constructions of thegeneral type under consideration.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures L I, V W

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1 CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 4,898filedJan. 22, 19 70 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION- There are many areas of commercial andresidential demand for a single piece of furniture which will providethe plurality of body supporting positions normally provided by a chair,a chaise lounge and a cot. Exemplary 'of such areas of demand arehospitals and other recuperative institutions, hotels, motels, and invarious outdoor or sunbathing uses such as for patio and beach"furniture. In the case of residential or general outdoor usage theprimary concerns are normally the savings in cost represented by asingle piece of furniture vis-a-vis a multiplicity of such pieces and/orthe more ready portability and convenience of lesser bulk storage duringoff-season periods. In addition to the foregoing consid erations, a farmore compelling demand exists where the furniture is to be used inrelatively small rooms where economic considerations dictate that floorspace be kept to a minimum consistent with adequate furniturerequirements. Institutional centers, such as nursing homes andparticularly hospitals, are classic examples of commercial enterprisesnecessarily utilizing small rooms while yet requiring body supportingfurniture of various types in addition to the patients bed. Suchfurniture is required not only for visitors and persons in attendance onthe patient but also for the patients use in various stages of recovery.

Hospital usage of such furniture necessarily imposes a number ofconsiderations which would be a lesser importance in other environments.Foremost among such considerations are the ability to maintain highstandards of cleanliness with a minimum of effort while yet ensuringthat the furniture will resist any deteriorating effects from thegermicidal cleaners normally used in hospitals and the assurance ofcomplete safety in usage such as, for example, in the case of arecuperating patient. It is also desirable that hospital furnitureadapted for usage in the form of a chair by non-ambulatory pa-- tientsbe readily susceptible of emergency movement as in the case of anecessary evacuation, such as fire, a natural disaster or a sittingpatient requiring emergency treatment outside the room.

Prior convertible type lounge chairs have been deficient in one or moreof the above respects and have, accordingly, failed to achievewidespread commercial success, particularly in the institutional field.One of the more common deficiencies relates to the cleaning of thevarious linkage mechanisms and spring structures associated with knownconvertible chairs such as typified by that disclosed in US. Pat. No.2,l55,490. While there is certainly no requirement for sterility inhospital furniture it must meet an unusually high standard ofcleanliness at all times and the necessarily lubricated and overlappedrelationship of adjustable linkage elements adjacent their pivot pointsprovide natural collection areas for dust, dirt and other debris.Inasmuch as the overlapped, linked portions as well as the lubricant forsuch linkage connections are not susceptible of cleaning, any effort tothoroughly clean convertible furniture of the type previously knownrequires not only a substantially complete disassembly of the same but,also, that the linkage connections again be lubricated. While this highstate of cleaniness would not even be desirable in most instances ofnon-institutional usage it is a consideration of some importance inhospital maintence where the usual practice has been to purchase verysimple pieces of furniture which may be readily cleaned merely by wipingwith a germicidal solution. Furthermore, complex linkage connectionsrepresent a substantial cost factor in the price of the furniture bothfrom the standpoint of fabrication and assembly.

The prior use of covered foamed seat cushions to provide a flexible bodysupport so that the usual cushion supporting springs may be omitted are,in many states, considered unacceptable for hospital usage. The reasonfor this is the necessary presence in each foamed cushion of a so-calledbreather opening through the outer impervious covering which allows theingress and egress of air to and from the foam tilled interior when apersons weight is placed upon or removed from the cushion. Such abreather opening alternately acts as a suction and pressure pump to drawambient air along with any bateria or other airborne materials such asscab fragments or the like into the cushion interior which will beexpelled therefrom at some later time by the positive pumping action ofapersons weight being placed on the cushion.

Convertible lounge chairs are subject to the same psychological barriersin the mind of the general public as are many other convertible ormulti-purpose type devices since the same are frequently regarded as acompromise between cost and quality. This effect is, of course,heightened in devices of the type under consideration where physicalcomfort is the primary purpose of the convertibleconstruction. It willbe apparent that proper rest in the prone position is most efficaciouslyachieved by providing a generally flat surface whereas a generallyhorizontally positioned seat cushion is quite uncomfortable in a loungechair tending to cause the occupant to slide downwardly in the chairwhen the back is inclined rearwardly. Such inconsistencies havecontributed to some feeling that convertible furniture cannot providethe degree of comfort, in various modes, as is attainable with separatepieces of furniture.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a convertiblelounge chair of extremely simple construction involving, apart from thelocking mechanism, only two moving parts in the supporting framework andboth of which moving parts are readily accessible for cleaning. A simpleposition locking mechanism housed within a metal framework and anintegral hinge connection between two cushions comprise the total movingparts. Only the position locking mechanism is not readily available forcleaning and it is housed almost totally within a housing structure.

It is among the further objects of the invention to introduce a singlepiece of furniture which is interconvertible between and provides thesingle unit type comfort of an upright chair, a lounge chair, a chaiselounge and a cot; to provide such a piece of furniture which iscompletely stable in all positions of usage and yet is immediatelymobile in all except the full recline or cot position; to provide afurniture construction employing foam cushions having a breather"opening defined by a more or less tortuous path for the purpose ofreducing the ingress and egress of airbone materials to and from thecushion interior; and to provide an interrelated cushion and frameworkgeometry which avoids the necessity of compromising either the flatfully prone position in the cot mode or the rearwardly inclined seatposition when utilizing the furniture as a lounge chair.

As in all convertible chairs it is necessary that the back, seat andfoot portions assume various positions of relative adjustment and themanner in which these adjustments are effected in the absence of anyrelatively movable linkage mechanisms therebetween is an importantaspect of the invention contributing both to the ready accessibility forcleaning and the integrated unit-handled construction which assures thatthe mobility feature will not be impaired i various positions ofadJustment. This is achieved by the use of three separate rigidframework components defining, respectively, seat, foot and backsupportingframeworks. The back framework is mounted on the seatframework for adjustable movement about a single fixed pivot axisdefined by means rigid with the seat framework. The seat frame furtherincludes a slideway formed integrally therewith on which the foot frameis adjustably mounted for linear reciprocatory adjustment. The fullrange of necessary ,7 adjustments may be achieved merely by pivoting theback on the seat and sliding the foot on its seat supporting slideway.

Seat, back and foot cushions are so related and constantlyinterconnected with the furniture construction as to permit the fullrange of adjustment by merely pivting or e cushion through 180 degreesin addition tothe aforementioned framework adjustments. Morespecifically, the back cushion is rigidly supported on the back framewhile the seat cushion is securely attached adjacent one end thereof tothe seat frame for limited vertical movement of the other end thereof towhich other end is pivotally attached, by an integral or sewn hingeconnection, the foot cushion for pivotal movement throughout 180 aboutthe axis of the hinge connection into selective overlying relation tothe seat cushion and foot frame. Mating wedge shapes on the foot frameand cushion permit the upper surface of the foot cushion to lie in ahorizontal plane when the same overlies the foot frame and to berearwardly inclined when pivoted l80 to overlie the seat cushion.

Each of the cushions are foam filled thus obviating the need for springsand the impervious coverings therefor are formed with overlapping flapportions to define the necessary breather openings into the foam filledinteriors. Because of the way the flaps are arranged air is not pumpeddirectly between the cushion exterior and interior but, rather, mustfollow a somewhat tortous path as will be defined by the coactingoverlapped impervious material portions.

Each of the rear legs has rigidly secured to the rear surface thereof awheel which, in the normal use position, is spaced above the floor orother supporting surface. Upon tilting the chair rearwardly, in any ofthe chair or lounge modes, these wheels come into contact with the floorwhile the front and rear legs are elevated thereabove about the fulcralaxis defined by the wheels to permit the chair and a seated occupant tobe readily wheeled to a different location, as in an emergencyevacuation, by an attendant positioned behind the chair.

The locking mechanism which controls the back position adjustment islocated in such a position as to be inaccessible to a seated occupant toinsure that no possible injury could occur to one attempting to make aback adjustment while seated such as in the case of a recuperating backinjury patient, for example.

Although the advantages of the invention as applied to residential andgeneral commercial usage will be readily appreciated from the foregoingdiscussion and particularly as regards ready portability and convenienceof compact storage; the following detailed description and discussion ofone specific embodiment will be directed to the hospital environmentwhere the invention finds its greatest application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The manner in which the aforestated objectsand advantages are achieved will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is aside elevational view, with parts broken away, illustrating aconvertible lounge chair wherein the lounge chair mode is shown in solidlines and the manner of converting the same to chaise lounge and cotmodes is indicated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the convertible lounge chairillustrating, in phantom lines, the back frame locking mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective illustrating the various componentsthereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.3; and

FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned detail view of a part of the lockingmechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The convertible lounge chair 10includes rigid, relatively adjustable back, seat and foot supportingframeworks 12, 14, 16 adapted to support back, seat and foot cushions18, 20, 22. Seat frame 14 includes a pair of inverted, generally Ushapedstructural members 24 whose downward vertical extensions define frontand rear legs 26, 28 merging with upper generally horizontal section 30to which arm rests 32 are secured. Channel members 34 are rigidlysecured in bridging relation to front and rear legs 26, 28 and define aslideway for the selective slidable adjustment of foot frame 116relative thereto. The seat frame is further rigidified by cross braces36 secured thereto as by welding or the like and presenting a foot framestop 38 on the upper surface of the front cross brace. Wheels 40 arejournalled rearwardly of rear legs 28 and above the lower ends thereofin wheel supports 42 rigidly secured to the rear legs. A metal cushionconnecting strap 44 bridges channel members 34 rearwardly of a pair ofbrackets 46 rigidly upstanding from the channel members and havingaligned pivot openings 48 therein defining a fixed pivot axis.Conventional glides 50 may be secured to each of the legs as desired tocomplete the seat framework assembly.

Back framework 12 consists of a generally rectangular channel shapedframe 52 having integral depending arms 54. containing pivot openings 56adapted to cooperate with seat bracket openings 48 for the reception ofpivot pins 58. Housed within the channel sectioned frame part 52 is aback framework adjusting and locking mechanism 60 including locking rods62 pivotally attached at one end thereof to opposite corners of a squarepivot plate 64 on opposite sides of a 'pivot pin 66 by which the plateis supported on frame 58. The other ends of locking rods 62 extendthrough opposite sides of channel frame 58 for the selective retractionand extension thereof by a spring 68 and a manual manipulating rod 70.Manipulating rod 70 extends through a guide bracket 72, rigid withchannel frame 58, and is pivotally connected to a corner 74 of plate 64intermediate the locking rod pivot points. Tension spring 68interconnecting platecorner 74 and bracket '72 serves to bias thelocking mechanism about pivot 66 to the extended locking position shownin FIGS. 2 and 3 until the spring bias is'overridden by the manualdepression of rod handle 78 extending through a cutout 80 in frame 58.The outwardly extending ends of rods 62 are adapted for selectivepositionment in any of holes 82 in members 24.

Foot framework 16 includes a generally horizontally disposed openrectangular frame 84 having front legs 86and the side members of whichare sized to be slidably supported in the facing channels 34 of seatframe 14. A wedge frame 88, sized for reception between channels 34, isdefined by a pair of wedge shaped structural members 90 rigidly securedto frame 82 and cross braced at their forward ends by a brace angle 92or the like. A grid-like cushion supporting framework 94 such asexpanded metal or the like is rigidly secured adjacent the upperportions of the wedge shaped members 90, the angle 92 and the rear crossmember of frame 84 to define an upwardly and forwardly inclined footcushion supporting surface. The foot frame may further include a woodenmolding 95 and conventional plastic glides 96 for legs 86.

The necessity for seat supporting springs is obviated by the use ofpolyurethane foam filled cushions encased by an impervious expandedvinyl covering 98. The back and seat cushions 18, 20 are backed by rigidsupports 100, such as plywood or the like, encased within the outercovering. Foot cushion 22, since it alternately serves as a foot cushionand auxiliary seat cushion as indicated by the phantom and solid linepositions of FIG. 1, does not include a rigid backing and is entirelyflexible. The foam filled interior 102 of the back and seat cushions aredesirably of a'common density, such as 1.3 for example, while the foamcomprising the foot cushion interior is ofa greater density, such as 1.5for example. The reason for the density differences will be apparentfrom the fact that in the cot mode a somewhat softer seat portion isdesirable than when the device is being used as a lounge chair where afirmer seat is desirable. Each of the seat cushions includes breatheropenings to the foam filled interior defined by overlapped flap portions104, 106. As illus- I trated in FIG. 4, the fold area 108 prohibits thepassage of air at the dead end area of reentrant folds 110 while theoverlapped flaps 1104, 106 may undergo relative movement toward and awayfrom the foam filled interior. Thus, when a persons weight is placedupon a cushion the air pressure build-up inside covering 98 tends toforce both flaps 104 and 106 outwardly together and the expelled airmust follow a somewhat tortuous path around one end of flap 106. Moreimportantly, upon removal of weight from the cushion the reducedpressure interior tends to suck both flaps inwardly and into tight faceto face contact so that the ingress of air is much slower and throughrelatively small restricted spaces when compared with the normally largescreen covered openings which open directly into the interior ofconventional foam filled cushions.

The back cushion is rigidly secured to back frame 12 by suitablefasteners 112 extending into the plywood backing.

Seat cushion 20 is secured along the lower rear edge thereof to cushionconnecting strap 44 by suitable fasteners 114 extending into plywoodbacking 100 as best shown in FIG. 1. Strap 44 is sufficiently flexibleabout its longitudinal axis to permit the seat cushion which is rigidlysecured thereto to undergothe slight relative angular movement necessaryto move between the solid and dotted line positions of FIG. 1 wherein'itrests upon the channel members 34 and supporting surface 94,respectively.

Foot cushion 22 has a wedge shaped surface 116 whose slope issubstantially equal to that of the cushion supporting surface 94 so thatin the foot frame extended position indicated by phantom lines in FIG.I, the upper or foot supporting surface 118 is substantially horizontal.An integral or separate sewn hinge 120 interconnects one edge of footcushion surface 118 with the forward upper edge of the seat cushion sothat the seat and foot cushions are interconnected with the seat frameand it is only necessary to pivot cushion 22 about hinge 120 toalternately expose opposite surfaces 116, 118 thereof for use in thevarious chair adjustments involving foot frame 16.

Additional anti-marring features that may be included are thepolyvinylchloride bumper 122 (FIG. 1) secured to the upper rear edge ofthe back cushion and a plastic insert 124 (FIG. 5), such as Teflon orthe like,

received within counterbored ends of locking rods 62. Bumper 122 isparticularly advantageous in protecting the surface finish ofa wallagainst which the chair may be positioned or moved.

The manner in which the chair may be converted to various of its bodysupporting positions will be readily apparent from an inspection of FIG.1 and the phantom line illustrations therein. In order to convert fromthe lounge chair mode of FIG. 1 to the chaise lounge mode it is onlynecessary to slide foot frame 16 outwardly as indicated by thehorizontal arrow in FIG. 1 until such time as the rear cross member offrame 84 engages stop member 38 and pivot foot cushion 22counterclockwise to the dotted line position about hinge 120. In theevent a back adjustment is desired or to convert to the cot mode it ismerely necessary to depress handle 78 to retract locking rods 62 from analigned pair of openings 82 after which time the handle '78 may bereleased when the locking rods are adjacent the desired pair ofadjustment openings 82 or when the back has reached the fully declinedposition as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 1. As the foot frameis pulled outwardly seat cushion 20 drops to the lower horizontalposition indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 1. Similarly, when thefoot framework is again pushed inwardly to the solid line position ofFIG. 1, seat cushion 20 pivots upwardly to the solid line position. Thisrelative pivoting movement of seat cushion 20 is permitted by theflexibility of cushion supporting strap 44 as previously explained. Inthe event that a natural disaster or other emergency requires immediatemobility for a nonllambulatory patient seated in the convertible chairin any position other than the cot mode, it is merely necessary for anattendant to press downwardly on the I rear portion of the'back frameand elevate the chair about a fulcral axis defined by wheels 40whereupon the patient may be readily wheeled to a different location.The unit'handled construction of the lounge chair makes possible theimmediate mobility of the same in all of its adjusted positions, exceptfor the cot mode, since even in the chaise lounge position the footframe will be securely supported on the seat frame as the same is tiltedrearwardly.

I claim:

1. A multi-purpose body support structure selectively adjustable amongchair, chaise lounge and bed positions, comprising: a rigid seatsupporting framework including means defining a fixed pivot axis and aslideway; a rigid back supporting framework mounted for adjustingmovement throughout a single path of arcuate movement defined by saidpivot axis;-means for locking said back supporting framework in aplurality of adjusted positions along said path of arcuate movement; abach cushion affixed to said back supporting framework for movementtherewith throughout a path of arcuate movement; a seat cushionsupported in overlying relation to said slideway; means for raising andlowering the outer end of said seat cushion; said last named meanscomprising a generally wedge-shaped foot supporting framework includingfloor engaging means extending downwardly from the larger wedgeshapedend thereof; said foot supporting framework being slidably engageablewith said slideway for adjustment between a first extended position withthe smaller wedge-shaped end thereof supported by said slideway and thelarger end supported by said floor engaging means and a second retractedposition underlying said seat cushion wherein said foot supportingframework is supported on said seat supporting framework and the outerend of said seat cushion is upwardly inclined and supported on the uppersurface of said foot supporting framework; and a foot cushion adapted tobe supported on said foot supporting framework in the extended positionof the same and on the seat cushion in the retracted position of thefoot supporting framework.

2. The body support structure of claim 1 including from and rear legsrigid with said seat supporting framework; and wheel means rigidlymounted on said structure upwardly and rearwardly of the lower ends ofsaid rear legs.

3. The body support structure of claim 1 wherein said seat andfootcushions lie substantially outside the path of arcuate movement of saidback cushion at all positions thereof whereby said body supportstructure may be converted from a chair to a chaise lounge and viceversa without declining said back supporting framework and back cushion.

4. A multi-purpose body support structure capable of movement between achair position providing an occupant entry, a chaise lounge position anda substantially horizontal bed position comprising a rigid seatsupporting framework including means defining a fixed pivot axis and aslideway; a rigid back supporting framework mounted for adjustingmovement throughout a single path of arcuate movement defined by thepivot axis; means locking the back supporting framework in a pluralityof adjusted positions along the path of arcuate movement; a back cushionaffixed to the back supporting framework for movement therewith; a rigidfoot supporting framework mounted for adjusting movement throughout asingle linear path of movement defined by the slideway; a seat cushionaffixed to the seat supporting framework for upward movement adjacentthe occupant entry to provide means for receiving the foot supportingframework between the seat supporting framework and the seat cushion inthe chair position and a foot cushion pivotally connected to the seatcushion adjacent the occupant entry for movement between positionsjuxtaposed to the seat cushion and juxtaposed to the foot supportingframework, the foot cushion and foot supporting frameworks beingwedge-shaped in side elevation and having the large ends thereofadjacent the occupant entry when in the chair position; and said bodysupport structure further comprising means for'moving the seat cushionupon sliding the foot supporting framework, the moving means comprisingthe wedge provided by the foot supporting framework.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CERTIFICATE OF C ECTION o Patent No. 7 7 9Dated October 23 1973 Inventor(s) Jack E Spence It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 34, a should read -of--.

Column 3, line 14, "10" should read in--.

Column 3, the sentence commencing in line 23 and extending through line27 should read as follows:

The full range of necessary adjustments may be achieved merely bypivoting the back on the seat and sliding the foot on its seatsupporting slideway.

Column 3, line 53, "tortous" should read tor'tuous-.

Column 6, line 65, "nonlambulatory" should read nonambulatory--.

Column 7; line 19, "bach" should read =-back-.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of March 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: 4 C. MARSHALL DANN RQ c QE Qi% J% 1 E E$ Commissioner ofPatents 7 of

1. A multi-purpose body support structure selectively adjustable amongchair, chaise lounge and bed positions, comprising: a rigid seatsupporting framework including means defining a fixed pivot axis and aslideway; a rigid back supporting framework mounted for adjustingmovement throughout a single path of arcuate movement defined by saidpivot axis; means for locking said back supporting framework in aplurality of adjusted positions along said path of arcuate movement; aback cushion affixed to said back supporting framework for movementtherewith throughout a path of arcuate movement; a seat cushionsupported in overlying relation to said slideway; means for raising andlowering the outer end of said seat cushion; said last named meanscomprising a generally wedge-shaped foot supporting framework includingfloor engaging means extending downwardly from the larger wedgeshapedend thereof; said foot supporting framework being slidably engageablewith said slideway for adjustment between a first extended position withthe smaller wedge-shaped end thereof supported by said slideway and thelarger end supported by said floor engaging means and a second retractedposition underlying said seat cushion wherein said foot supportingframework is supported on said seat supporting framework and the outerend of said seat cushion is upwardly inclined and supported on the uppersurface of said foot supporting framework; and a foot cushion adapted tobe supported on said foot supporting framework in the extended positionof the same and on the seat cushion in the retracted position of thefoot supporting framework.
 2. The body support structure of claim 1including front and rear legs rigid with said seat supporting framework;and wheel means rigidly mounted on said structure upwardly andrearwardly of the lower ends of said rear legs.
 3. The body supportstructure of claim 1 wherein said seat and foot cushions liesubstantially outside the path of arcuate movement of said back cushionat all positions thereof whereby said body support structure may beconverted from a chair to a chaise lounge and vice versa withoutdeclining said back supporting framework and back cushion.
 4. Amulti-purpose body support structure capable of movement between a chairposition providing an occupant entry, a chaise lounge position and asubstantially horizontal bed position comprising a rigid seat supportingframework including means defining a fixed pivot axis and a slideway; arigid back supporting framework mounted for adjusting movementthroughout a single path of arcuate movement defined by the pivot axis;means locking the back supporting framework in a plurality of adjustedpositions along the path of arcuate movement; a back cushion affixed tothe back supporting framework for movement therewith; a rigid footsupporting framework mounted for adjusting movement throughout a singlelinear path of movement defined by the slideway; a seat cushion affixedto the seat supporting framework for upward movement adjacent theoccupant entry to provide means for receiving the foot supportingframework between the seat supporting framework and the seat cushion inthe chair position and a foot cushion pivotally connected to the seatcushion adjacent the occupant entry for movement between positionsjuxtaposed to the seat cushion and juxtaposed to the foot supportingframework, the foot cushion and foot supporting frameworks beingwedge-shaped in side elevation and having the large ends thereofadjacent the occupant entry when in the chair position; and said bodysupport structure further comprising means for moving the seat cushionupon sliding the foot supporting framework, the moving means comprisingthe wedge provided by the foot supporting framework.